Phlox plant named ‘Neon Flare’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Neon Flare’, particularly distinguished by white and magenta bicolored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Neon Flare’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Neon Flare’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in 2005 in a nursery location in Haarlem, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Phlox paniculata plants.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollination in 2006 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since the summer of 2006, has shown that the unique features of the Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. White and magenta bicolored flowers;     -   2. Compact habit;     -   3. Healthy foliage; and     -   4. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Windsor’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Neon Flare’ differ from plants of ‘Windsor’ by having healthier foliage, thicker stems, and a sturdier, more compact plant habit. Additionally, ‘Neon Flare’ flowers more evenly with flowers that have a richer color than those of ‘Windsor’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Neon Flare’ are similar to ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,801. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Neon Flare’ differ from plants of ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Neon Flare’. The plant was field grown for approximately 1 year in Haarlem, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Neon Flare’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Neon Flare’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Neon Flare’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken in August 2009 on 1-year-old field grown plants which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between 14° C. and 28° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and 18° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylight conditions.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar ‘Neon Flare’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cutting.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 30 days with             average soil temperature of 21° C.         -   Root description.—White, thin, fibrous, sparse.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial. Overall shape: Narrow inverted             triangle. High temperature tolerance: Tolerant to at least             35° C. Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to at least USDA             Zone 4. Excellent garden performance.         -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 25 weeks from rooted             cutting to finish in a 1.5 liter container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, moderately             vigorous.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 47.8 cm. Width: Approximately 43.1 cm. Rate of             growth: In spring, approximately 7 cm per month.         -   Branching habit.—Low to moderate basal branching; pinching             will improve basal branching; flowering stems grow from             base. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 6             flowering stems.         -   Stem.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 29.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous, slightly glossy.             Color of young and mature stems: 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per stem:             Approximately 26. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Durability to stress: High.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic. Margin:             Slightly revolute, very short and finely serrate with             approximately 30 teeth per cm. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base:             Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 10.1 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B with             venation of 144C to 144D. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: 138A to 138B with venation of 144D. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 144C to             144D. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with             venation of 144D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Color: 144C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             summer through late summer.         -   Lastingness of flower on the plant.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,             self-cleaning. Fragrance: Moderately, sweet and pleasant;             typical Phlox paniculata scent. Height: Approximately             17.2 cm. Width: Approximately 15.0 cm. Quantity of opened             flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 200. Rate of flower             opening: Approximately 20% of the flowers at any stage.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect primary peduncles             with secondary peduncles at approximately a 45° angle.             Length of primary: Approximately 13.9 cm. Diameter of             primary: Approximately 2.5 mm. Length of secondary:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter of secondary: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Shape: Salverform.             Aspect: Upright to outward.         -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per inflorescence:             Approximately 100. Shape: Oblanceolate. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color:             Petals of 72B; calyx base of 147D transitioning to 147A             toward apex. Rate of opening: Approximately 4 days.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, lower 55% of each petal fused into a             narrow tube. Arrangement: Rotate. Appearance: Dull. Shape,             lobe: Spathulate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly rounded.             Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface             when first open: Pure white with an overlay of N74A through             N74D, overlay is darkest at upper left margin and nearest             tube opening, tube of N77D. Color of lower surface when             first open: 76D with 77B to 77C, tube of N77C to N77D. Color             of upper surface when fully open: Pure white with an overlay             of N74A through N74D, overlay is darkest at upper left             margin and nearest tube opening, tube of N77D. Color of             lower surface when fully open: 76D to 77C, tube of N77C to             N77D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Campanulate. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, lower fifth fused into a narrow tube.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Moderately             glossy. Shape: Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Narrow             apiculate. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.3 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, moderately glossy. Color of upper and lower surfaces             of immature sepals: 147A with margins and base of 144B to             147D. Color of upper and lower surfaces of mature sepals:             147A with margins and base of 144B to 147D.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect when directly             adjoining peduncle, others at an approximately 60° angle.             Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, basifixed. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Filament length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 22A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 11C             to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft             (3-parted). Stigma color: 150D. Style length: Approximately             1.6 cm. Style color: N77D and lighter. Ovary color: 143A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular     resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Neon Flare’, substantially as herein shown and described. 